Sarina Wiegman hailed a captain’s contribution from Lucy Bronze after the England veteran inspired her teammates in last night’s dramatic quarter-final win over Sweden.
The reigning European champions looked destined for an early exit when they trailed 2-0 at half-time following a lacklustre display.
Indeed, it wasn’t until Bronze’s header 11 minutes from the end that the Lionesses threatened the comeback that was completed 130 seconds later when Michelle Agyemang pounced to score her first tournament goal.
An absorbing, but ultimately goaless, period of extra time ensued before a dramatic penalty shootout which England victorious from by the skin of their teeth.
Astonishingly, only five of the 14 spot kicks taken were successfully converted as goalkeepers Hannah Hampton and her opposite number, Jennifer Falk, excelled themselves.
Bronze, who wore the armband after Leah Williamson limped off, led the way in sudden death, hammering her effort straight down the middle before retrieving the ball and slamming into the turf.
It was an astonishing show of emotion, reminiscent of Stuart Pearce’s iconic outburst following his successful penalty conversion, six years on from a costly miss against West Germany, against Spain at Euro 96.
‘Lucy Bronze is just one of a kind,’ said a relieved Wiegman after the game. ‘I have never ever seen anything like this before in my life.
‘I’m a very lucky person that I’ve worked with so many incredible people, incredible football players.
‘What she does and her mentality and how she does it, the penalty, the goal, that’s not what defines her.
‘What defines her is that resilience, that fight. I think the only way to get her off the pitch is in the wheelchair.’
